Derby entrant Wimbledon Hawkeye may head next to the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot instead of Epsom, according to trainer James Owen.
The son of Kameko, winner of last year's Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes, has run three times this season to be runner-up in the Craven Stakes before running fifth in the 2,000 Guineas and third in the Dante Stakes.
Owen said of the Gredley family's homebred, “He's come out of the Dante really well and he's had three quick runs now and probably ran to a similar level in all three.
“I thought he stayed well at York and although I would love to go to the Derby with him, we have to do the best thing by the horse and we are probably swaying towards the King Edward VII at Royal Ascot.
“We're leaning that way to give him the best chance of getting his head in front. I think he would be a solid Derby runner, but he's got to improve on the form he has shown this year around some of the others.
“It's not certain yet, but at this stage we're swaying towards Royal Ascot over the Derby.”
Owen will however be represented in the Betfred Derby by Rogue Impact for The Rogues Gallery syndicate.
“He's been learning on the job and is going to stay well and has winning form with Owen Burrows's Al Wasl Storm, who is another outsider running in the Derby,” he said.
“I think he would appreciate a little bit of cut in the ground, which I think there probably will be – it will be nice ground – and it's great for the Rogues Gallery to have a runner in the Derby.”
Owen added, “Whatever the result, we'll have a great day out, the syndicate will have a great day out and we've got a horse to look forward to for the future after that. He's a horse we really like and I'm delighted we're going to have a run.”
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